Hanging carrier for storing and displaying personal items

ABSTRACT

A hanging carrier includes a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel. The first and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement between a storage position, in which the first and second pockets and the inner hanger are stored between the first and second panels and the outer hanger is available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and second panels, and a display position, in which the outer hanger is stored between the first and second panels, the first and second pockets are exteriorly displayed, and the inner hanger is available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the display position of the first and second panels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage apparatus used for storing andcarrying about personal items and for reducing clutter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to reduce clutter in personal spaces has produced manyinnovative storage solutions, including a wide variety of closetorganizers, storage containers, storage bins, compartmented storageassemblies, and the like. Because personal workspaces, desktops, dressertops, closets, and other similar areas are particularly prone toaccumulate clutter, skilled artisans have developed a wide variety ofspecialized storage devices designed to meet specific storage needs. Offurther significance are the needs of travelers, which require their ownvariety of luggage, bags, hanging carriers, and the like, forconveniently organizing and storing personal items for carrying andtransport when travelling, whether by land, air, or sea. To meet theneeds of travelers, skilled artisans have also developed a wide varietyof travel cases, bags, hanging carriers designed to accommodateconvenient storage and transport of personal items. Although the fieldof storage devices has received, and continues to receive, ongoingattention by skilled artisans, resulting innovations continue to proveexpensive, cumbersome to use, unwieldy, and otherwise not entirelysatisfactory, thereby necessitating continued improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a hanging carrier forholding and storing personal items includes a first storage pocketcarried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carried by a secondpanel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outer hangers,connecting the first panel to the second panel. The first and secondpanels are mounted to the spine for movement between storage and displaypositions relative to the spine. In the storage position of the firstand second panels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets arelocated in a first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine andthe first and second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorlyso as to be available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spinein the storage position of the first and second panels. In the displayposition of the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located ina second storage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the firstand second panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorlyfrom the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and theinner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspendingthe hanging carrier in the display position of the first and secondpanel. The first pocket has an item placement and retrieval firstopening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrievalsecond opening. A first closure element is mounted to the first panel toserve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed andopened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the firstpocket. A second closure element is mounted to the second panel to serveas a closure for the second opening and movable between closed andopened positions for closing and opening the second opening of thesecond pocket. The first opening of the first pocket is directed towardthe spine, and the second opening of the second pocket is directedtoward the spine. The first and second pockets are constructed of amaterial that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placedtherein. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as a stiffened anchorpoint for the inner and the outer hanger. The first and second panelsare coextensive in a preferred embodiment, and the first and secondpockets are coextensive in a preferred embodiment. A fastening assemblyis mounted to the first and second panels to serve as a retainer forretaining the first and second panel in the storage position and beingmovable between fastened and unfastened positions. In a particularembodiment, the fastening assembly is a buckle assembly including anelement thereof carried by the first panel and a detachably engagablecomplemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

According to the invention, a hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items includes a first panel that has a first outer face, andan opposed first inner face that includes a first storage pocket, and asecond panel that has a second outer face, and an opposed second innerface that includes a second storage pocket, and a spine that connectsthe first panel to the second panel. The spine includes an outer sideformed with an outer hanger for hanging, and an opposed inner sideformed with an inner hanger for hanging. The first and second panels aremounted to the spine for movement between a storage position from theinner side of the spine juxtaposing the first and second inner faces ofthe first and second panels so to locate the inner hanger and the firstand second pockets between the first and second inner faces of the firstand second panels, and a display position from the outer side of thespine juxtaposing the first and second outer faces of the first andsecond panels so to locate the outer hanger between the first and secondouter faces of the first and second panels and outwardly display thefirst and second pockets from the first and second inner faces of thefirst and second panels, respectively. The outer hanger is available forhanging in the storage position of the first and second panels, and theinner hanger is available for hanging in the display position of thefirst and second panels. The first pocket has an item placement andretrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement andretrieval second opening. A first closure element is mounted to serve asa first closure for the first opening and is movable between a closedposition for closing the first opening and an opened position foropening the first opening. A second closure element is mounted to serveas a second closure for the second opening and is movable between aclosed position for closing the second opening and an opened positionfor opening the second opening. The first opening of the first pocket isdirected toward the spine, and the second opening of the second pocketis directed toward the spine. The first and second pockets areconstructed of a material that permits the viewing therethrough ofcontents placed therein, such as a transparent material in a preferredembodiment. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as a stiffened anchorpoint for the inner and the outer hanger. Preferably, the first andsecond panels are coextensive, and the first and second pockets arecoextensive. A fastening assembly is mounted to the first and secondpanels to serve as a retainer for retaining the first and second panelin the storage position and being movable between fastened andunfastened positions. In a particular embodiment, the fastening assemblyis a buckle assembly including an element thereof carried by the firstpanel and a detachably engagable complemental element thereof carried bythe second panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an inner-side plan view of a hanging carrier for holdingpersonal items for storage and transport and which is shown as it wouldappear in an open position, and which includes a spine, formed with aninner hanger, connecting opposed panels each formed with a pocket forreceiving personal items for storage and transport, and a pocket closureelement;

FIG. 2 is an outer-side plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, furtherillustrating an outer hanger formed with the spine;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the pocketclosure of one of the pockets shown as it would appear open, and thepocket closure of the other pocket shown as it would appear closed;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustratingthe panels as they would appear folded relative to the spine into astorage position of the pockets defining a storage orientation of thehanging carrier;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustratingthe panels as they would appear folded relative to the spine into adisplay position of the pockets defining a display orientation of thehanging carrier;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the pocketclosures of the pockets as they would appear closed closing the pocketswith contents applied therein;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the hanging carrier of FIG. 10 shownas it would appear in a storage orientation;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the hanging carrier of FIG. 10 shownas it would appear in a display orientation; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, a hanging carrier for holding and storing personal itemsincludes a first storage pocket carried by a first panel, a secondstorage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine, formed withopposed inner and outer hangers each useful for suspending/hanging thehanging carrier, connecting the first panel to the second panel. Thefirst and second panels are mounted to the spine for movement betweenstorage and display positions relative to the spine. The storageposition of the first and second panel define the storage position ofthe first and second storage pockets, and the display position of thefirst and second panel define the display position of the first andsecond storage pockets. In the storage position of the first and secondpanels, the inner hanger and the first and second pockets are located ina first storage area defined by inner sides of the spine and the firstand second panels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as tobe available for suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in thestorage position of the first and second panels. In the display positionof the first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a secondstorage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first andsecond panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorlyfrom the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and theinner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspendingthe hanging carrier in the display position of the first and secondpanel. The first pocket has an item placement and retrieval firstopening, and the second pocket has an item placement and retrievalsecond opening. A first closure element is mounted to the first panel toserve as a closure for the first opening and movable between closed andopened positions for closing and opening the first opening of the firstpocket. A second closure element is mounted to the second panel to serveas a closure for the second opening and movable between closed andopened positions for closing and opening the second opening of thesecond pocket. The first opening of the first pocket is directed towardthe spine, and the second opening of the second pocket is directedtoward the spine. The first and second pockets are constructed of amaterial that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placedtherein. This material is preferably a transparent material having theproperty of transmitting rays of light through its substance so thatbodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen, such astransparent plastic. The spine is stiffened, so as to serve as astiffened anchor point for the inner and the outer hanger. The first andsecond panels are coextensive in a preferred embodiment, and the firstand second pockets are coextensive in a preferred embodiment. Afastening assembly is mounted to the first and second panels to serve asa retainer for retaining the first and second panel in the storageposition and being movable between fastened and unfastened positions. Ina particular embodiment, the fastening assembly is a buckle assemblyincluding an element thereof carried by the first panel and a detachablyengagable complemental element thereof carried by the second panel.

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected in relevant part to FIG. 1, which is an inner-side plan view ofa hanging carrier 20 for holding and storing personal items and shown asit would appear in an open position, and to FIG. 2, which is anouter-side plan view of hanging carrier 20 as in FIG. 1. Hanging carrier20 is useful for storing contents, such as personal contents in thenature of personal items, such as shoes, clothing, toiletries, and thelike, and adjusts between a storage orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7,and 11, for temporary or long-term storage of the contents storedtherein, and a display orientation, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 12, and 13,for displaying the contents stored therein for viewing and for providingconvenient access thereto for the retrieval of the storage contents foruse thereof in the normal and customary manner.

With continuing reference in relevant part to FIGS. 1 and 2, hangingcarrier 20 consists of opposed sheets or panels 21 and 22, and a spine23 positioned therebetween that connects panel 21 to panel 22. Panels 21and 22 are identical and are coextensive relative to each other in thisembodiment. Panels 21 and 22 are fashioned of sheet material constructedof canvas, woven nylon, or other like or similar material or combinationof materials having the inherent properties of pliancy so as to yieldunder applied influences, resistance to tearing, and resilience. Spine23 is, like panels 21 and 22, fashioned of sheet material constructed ofcanvas, woven nylon, or other like or similar material or combination ofmaterials.

Panel 21 has an outer side/face 30 and an opposed inner side/face 31,panel 22 has an outer side/face 35 and an opposed inner side/face 36,and spine 23 has an outer side/face 40 and an opposed inner side/face41. As shown in FIG. 2, outer face 30 of panel 21, outer face 35 ofpanel 22, and outer side 40 of spine 23 cooperate to form the exterioror back side of hanging carrier 20, in which outer face 30 of panel 21leads to, and is contiguous with, outer side 40 of spine 23, which, inturn, leads to, and is contiguous with, outer face 35 of panel 22. Asshown in FIG. 1, inner face 31 of panel 21, inner face 36 of panel 22,and inner side 41 of spine 23 cooperate to form the interior, front, orbelly side of hanging carrier 20, in which inner face 31 of panel 21leads to, and is contiguous with, inner side 41 of spine 23, which, inturn, leads to, and is contiguous with, inner face 36 of panel 22.

Outer and inner faces 30 and 31 of panel 21 extend outwardly to opposed,parallel side edges 50 and 51 of panel 21 that extend between opposedparallel inner and outer end edges 52 and 53 of panel 21. Similarly,outer and inner faces 35 and 36 of panel 22 extend outwardly to opposed,parallel side edges 60 and 61 of panel 22 that extend between opposedparallel inner and outer edges 62 and 63 of panel 22. Spine 23 hasopposed, parallel side edges 70 and 71 that extend between end 72thereof, connected between side edge 50 of panel 21 and side edge 60 ofpanel 22, and opposed end 73 thereof, connected between side edge 51 ofpanel 21 and side edge 61 of panel 22. Inner edge 52 of panel 21 isconnected to side edge 70 of spine 23, and the connection of inner edge52 of panel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 extends along the lengths ofinner and side edges 52 and 70 from end 72 of spine 23 and side edge 50of panel 21, to end 73 of spine 23 and side edge 51 of panel 21. Inneredge 62 of panel 22 is, in turn, connected to side edge 71 of spine 23,and the connection of inner edge 62 of panel 22 to side edge 71 of spine23 extends currently with respect to the connection of inner edge 52 ofpanel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 along the lengths of inner and sideedges 62 and 71 from end 72 of spine 23 and side edge 60 of panel 22, toend 73 of spine 23 and side edge 61 of panel 21.

Inner edge 52 of panel 21 is connected to side edge 70 of spine 23 viasewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or the like, and inner edge 62 of panel22 is, in turn, connected to side edge 71 of spine 23 via sewing,adhesive, heat bonding, or the like. The connection of inner edge 52 ofpanel 21 to side edge 70 of spine 23 forms an attachment point, or seam,therebetween, about which panel 21 is free to pivot/fold, as that of ahinged or a pivotal attachment, with respect to side edge 70 of spine 23between storage and display positions of panel 21 relative to spine 23,and this ability of panel 21 to pivot/fold between storage and displaypositions relative to spine 23 at the attachment point or seam betweenpanel 21 and spine 23 is facilitated by the aforementioned materialcharacteristics of panel 21. Likewise, the connection of inner edge 62of panel 22 to side edge 71 of spine 23 forms an attachment point, orseam, therebetween, about which panel 22 is free to pivot/fold, as thatof a hinged or a pivotal attachment, with respect to side edge 71 ofspine 23 between storage and display positions of panel 22 relative tospine 23, and this ability of panel 22 to pivot/fold between storage anddisplay positions relative to spine 23 at the attachment point or seambetween panel 22 and spine 23 is facilitated by the materialcharacteristics of panel 22.

Panels 21 and 22 and spine 23 form a body, similar to that of a bookcover or folder, that is rectangular in overall shape when laid open asin FIGS. 1 and 2. Side edges 50 and 51 and outer edge 53 of panel 21,side edges 60 and 61 and outer edge 63 of panel 22, and ends 72 and 73of spine 23 cooperate so as to define an outer perimeter or marginaledge or extremity, denoted generally at 80, of the referencedrectangular body formed by and between panels 21 and 22 and spine 23.

Preferably, spine 23 is stiffened so as to be made stiff, so as toresist bending or flexing, so as to serve as an anchor from whichhanging carrier 20 can be hung, in both the storage and displayorientations of hanging carrier 20. Spine 23 is stiffened with anapplied elongate backbone, denoted at 90 in FIG. 3, which is a sectionview taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. Backbone 90 is part of spine 23 andis elongate and extends along the length of spine 23 from end 72 to end73. Backbone 90 is fashioned of stiff plastic, carbon fiber, wood,metal, such as aluminum or steel, or the like, and is applied to, andheld within, a sleeve 91. Sleeve 91 forms a part of spine 23, and sleeve91 and backbone 90 together form spine 23 of hanging carrier 20. Sleeve91 of spine 23 is, like panels 21 and 22, fashioned of canvas, wovennylon, or other like or similar material or combination of materialshaving the properties of pliancy so as to yield under appliedinfluences, resistance to tearing, and resilience. Side edge 70 of spine23, which is joined to inner edge 52 of panel 21, is part of sleeve 91.Side edge 71 of spine 23, which is joined to inner edge 71 of panel 22,is also part of sleeve 91. Backbone 90 in sleeve 91 stiffens spine 23 soas to make spine 23 stiff, so as to resist bending or flexing. Ends 72and 73 of spine 23 form the ends of sleeve 91, and are closed, wherebyspine 90 is enclosed in sleeve 91 between ends 72 and 73 and side edges70 and 71 (not shown in FIG. 3) of spine 23, as referenced in FIGS. 1and 2. The stiffened characteristic of spine 23 provided by theapplication of spine 90 in sleeve 91 strengthens spine 23 so as to serveas an anchor from which hanging carrier 20 may be suspended or hung,both in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 and in the displayorientation of hanging carrier 20.

Sleeve 91 and spine 90 applied therein together form spine 23. Outerside 40 is that of spine 23 and, more particularly, that of sleeve 91,as shown in FIG. 2. Inner side 41 is that of spine 23 and, moreparticularly, that of sleeve 91, as shown in FIG. 1. Outer side 40 isformed with an outer hanger 100 for suspending/hanging, and inner side41 is formed with an inner hanger 110 for suspending/hanging. Outerhanger 100 is used to suspend/hang hanging carrier 20 in the storageorientation of hanging carrier 20, as is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11,and may be taken up by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 when in thestorage orientation, and inner hanger 110 is used to suspend/hanghanging carrier 20 in the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, asis shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 12, and 13, and may also be taken up by hand forcarrying hanging carrier 20 when in the display orientation, if sodesired.

In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, outer hanger 100 is centrally locatedbetween ends 72 and 73 of spine 23, and is a strap 101 having opposedends 102 and 103 affixed to outer side 40 via sewing, adhesive, heatbonding, or the like, leaving a loop in strap 101 between ends 102 and103 that may be used to suspend/hang hanging carrier 20, such as by handfor carrying hanging carrier 20 about, or from a hook or other elevatedsupport. Strap 101 is thus useful as an attachment point forsuspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the storage orientation ofhanging carrier 20, and also thus serves as a handle that may be takenup by hand for use in carrying hanging carrier 21 about as needed in thestorage orientation of hanging carrier 20. As such, hanging carrier 20is considered to be portable, in that it may be easily taken up by handat strap 101 so as to be carried about. Looking to FIG. 1, inner hanger110 is centrally located between ends 72 and 73 of spine 23, and is alooped strap 111 that passes through a D-ring 112, and which has opposedends 113 and 114 affixed to inner side 41 via sewing, adhesive, heatbonding, or the like. D-ring 112 is useful as a localized attachmentpoint for suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the displayorientation of hanging carrier 20, as shown in FIG. 13. Other hanger orhanger assemblies that will readily occur to those skilled in the artmay be used for outer and inner hanger assemblies 100 and 110 withoutdeparting from the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, inner face 31 of panel 21 includes a storage pocket120, and inner face 36 of panel 22 includes a storage pocket 150, bothof which are useful for taking on contents, such as shoes, clothing,toiletries, or the like, for long-term or temporary storage. Storagepockets 120 and 150, which are also referred to simply as pockets inthis specification, are identical, and are coextensive relative to eachother in that they are equal in size and in shape.

Pocket 120 is centrally located along inner face 31 of panel 21, and isformed by a shaped piece of material 121 having a bottom 122 and opposedsides 123 and 124 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or thelike, to inner face 31 of panel 21 forming a pouch used especially orcarrying selected contents as described above. Bottom 122 and sides 123attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 define or otherwise form theclosed bottom and sides of pocket 120. Material 121 forming pocket 120has a top 125 that opposes bottom 121. Top 125 extends between sides 123and 124, and is not attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 therebydefining an item placement and retrieval open end or opening 126 ofpocket 120 between top 125 and inner face 31 of panel 21 between sides123 and 124, which leads into the pouch/interior of pocket 120 throughwhich items are passed for placement into pocket 120 and through whichitems are passed for removal/retrieval from pocket 120. The open end oropening 126 is directed toward spine 23 and away from outer edge 53 ofpanel 21. Material 121 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to appliedinfluences, and this allows pocket 120 to deform and yield to facilitatethe application of contents therein. Material 121 is also transparenthaving the property of transmitting rays of light through its substanceso that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.Preferably, material 121 is flexible, thin film plastic, which istransparent having the property of transmitting rays of light throughits substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctlyseen, and this permits the viewing therethrough material 121 of contentsplaced therein pocket 120. This allows a user to visually inspectcontents applied to pocket 120 without having to remove the contentsfrom pocket 120. In alternate embodiments, material 121 can be a sheermaterial or a mesh material being transparent or otherwise having thecharacteristic of transparency so as to permit light to passtherethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctlyseen. An array of breather openings, each being denoted at 128, areformed in material 121, which serve as air flow areas to permit air flowthrough the interior of pocket 120.

Forming a part of pocket 120 is a closure element 130 mounted to serveas a closure for the open end or opening 126 to pocket 120 and which ismovable between a closed position as shown in FIG. 2 for closing theopen end or opening 126 for retaining contents applied into pocket 120,and an open or opened position as shown in 4 for opening the open end oropening 126 for allowing contents to be applied therethrough into pocket120 and for allowing contents to be removed therethrough from pocket120. Closure element 130 is a shaped piece of material or flap 131having a proximal end 132 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding,or the like, to inner face 31 of panel 21 between opening 126 intopocket 120 and spine 23, and also inner edge 52 of panel 21, and anopposed distal or free end 133. Flap 131 is flexible and pliant so as toyield to applied influences, and this allows flap to be taken up by handand easily moved between its open position as seen in FIG. 4 away fromopening 126 so as to open the open end or opening 126 and its closedposition applied toward and over opening 126 and over and acrossmaterial 121 so as to close open end or opening 126, as shown in FIG. 1.Flap 131 is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays oflight through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind canbe distinctly seen. Preferably, flap 131 is flexible, thin film plastic,which, identical to that of material 121, is transparent having theproperty of transmitting rays of light through its substance so thatbodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen, and thispermits the viewing therethrough flap 131 of contents placed into pocket120 in the closed position of flap 131. This allows a user to visuallyinspect contents applied to pocket 120 in the closed position of flap131. As a matter of example, FIG. 10 illustrates contents in the form ofa pair of ladies shoes applied into pocket 120, and flap 131 shown as itwould appear in its closed position closing the open end or opening 126into pocket 120 so as retain the contents within pocket 120, and whichfurther illustrates said contents as being visible through material 121and flap 131 of pocket 150 due to the described material characteristicsof material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 120. In alternate embodiments,flap 131 can be a sheer material or a mesh material being transparent orotherwise having the characteristic of transparency so as to permitlight to pass therethrough so that bodies situated beyond or behind canbe distinctly seen.

A retention assembly 140 is formed between material 121 and flap 131 forreleasably attaching distal end 133 to material 121 for releasablyretaining flap 131 in its closed position, and which is readilyseparable for releasing distal end 133 of flap 131 from material 121 tofacilitate the movement of flap 131 from its closed position to its openposition. With additional reference to FIG. 5, the immediate embodimentof retention assembly 140 is in the form of a hook and loop fastener,such as the one sold under the trademark Velcro®. One element 141 of thehook and loop fastener is secured to the outer side of material 121 ofpocket 120. The other element 142 of the hook and loop fastener issecured to the inner side of flap 131 near distal end 133. Here, element141 is a loop component of the hook and loop fastener, and element 142is the complementing hook component of the hook and loop fastener, andthis arrangement can be reversed if so desired. Other retentionassemblies, such as a snap fastener, a button fastener, a zipperfastener, or the like, which can be readily manipulated by hand and thatwill readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used for retentionassembly 140 associated with pocket 150.

Referring to FIG. 1, pocket 150 is the mirror image opposite of pocket120 and is identical to pocket 120 in every respect, and commonreference characters are used for the structural components of pockets120 and 150. Like that of pocket 120 applied to inner face 31 of panel21, pocket 150 is centrally located along inner face 36 of panel 22, andis formed by shaped piece of material 121 having bottom 122 and opposedsides 123 and 124 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, or thelike, to inner face 36 of panel 22 forming a pouch used especially orcarrying selected contents as described above. Bottom 122 and sides 123attached to inner face 36 of panel 22 define or otherwise form theclosed bottom and sides of pocket 150. Material 121 forming pocket 150has top 125 that opposes bottom 121. Top 125 extends between sides 123and 124, and is not attached to inner face 31 of panel 21 therebydefining item placement and retrieval open end or opening 126 betweentop 125 and inner face 31 of panel 21 between sides 123 and 124, whichleads into the pouch/interior of pocket 150 through which items arepassed for placement into pocket 150 and through which items are passedfor removal/retrieval from pocket 150. Open end or opening 126 isdirected toward spine 23 and away from outer edge 63 of panel 22.Material 121 is flexible and pliant so as to yield to appliedinfluences, and this allows pocket 150 to deform and yield to facilitatethe application of contents therein. Again, material 121 of pocket 150is also transparent having the property of transmitting rays of lightthrough its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can bedistinctly seen. Preferably, material 121 is flexible, thin filmplastic, which is transparent to permit the viewing therethrough ofcontents placed therein. This allows a user to visually inspect contentsapplied to pocket 150 without having to remove the contents from pocket150. Breather openings 128 formed in material 121 serve as air flowareas to permit air flow through the interior of pocket 150. Again, inalternate embodiments material 121 can be a sheer material or a meshmaterial being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic oftransparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodiessituated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

Forming a part of pocket 150 is closure element 130 mounted to serve asa closure for open end or opening 126 to pocket 150 and which is movablebetween closed and open/opened position as described in connection withpocket 120. Closure element 130 is shaped piece of material or flap 131having proximal end 132 attached via sewing, adhesive, heat bonding, orthe like, to inner face 36 of panel 22 between open end or opening 126into pocket 150 and spine 23, and also inner edge 62 of panel 22, andopposed distal or free end 133. Flap 131 is flexible and pliant so as toyield to applied influences, and this allows flap to be taken up by handand easily moved between its open and closed positions. Again, flap 131of pocket 150 is also transparent having the property of transmittingrays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond orbehind can be distinctly seen. Preferably, flap 131 associated withpocket 150 is flexible, thin film plastic, which is transparent topermit the viewing therethrough of contents placed into pocket 150 inthe closed position of flap 131. This allows a user to visually inspectcontents applied to pocket 150 in the closed position of flap 131. As amatter of example, FIG. 10 illustrates contents in the form of a pair oftennis shoes applied into pocket 150, and flap 131 of pocket 159 shownas it would appear in its closed position closing open end or opening126 into pocket 150 so as retain the contents within pocket 150, andwhich further illustrates said contents as being visible throughmaterial 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150 due to the described materialcharacteristics of material 121 and flap 131 of pocket 150. Again, inalternate embodiments flap 131 can be a sheer material or a meshmaterial being transparent or otherwise having the characteristic oftransparency so as to permit light to pass therethrough so that bodiessituated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.

Retention assembly 140 is formed between material 121 and flap 131 ofpocket 150 for releasably attaching distal end 133 to material 121 forreleasably retaining flap 131 in its closed position, and which isreadily separable for releasing distal end 133 of flap 131 from material121 to facilitate the movement of flap 131 from its closed position toits open position. As with pocket 120, the immediate embodiment ofretention assembly 140 of pocket 150 is in the form of a hook and loopfastener, such as the one sold under the trademark Velcro®. One elementof the hook and loop fastener, such as the loop component, is secured tothe outer side of material 121 of pocket 150. The other element of thehook and loop fastener, such as the hook component, is secured to theinner side of flap 131 near distal end 133. As with pocket 120, otherretention assemblies, such as a snap fastener, a button fastener, azipper fastener, or the like, which can be readily manipulated by handand that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used forretention assembly 140 associated with pocket 150.

As first intimated above, and referring in relevant part to FIGS. 6 and7, panels 21 and 22 are mounted to spine 23 so as to be free to moverelative to spine 23 via pivoting or pivotal movement or folding fromeither side of spine 23 at the attachment points between panels 21 and22 and spine 23 between a storage position from inner side 41 of spine23 juxtaposing inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 so to locateinner hanger 110 and pockets 120 and 150 of panels 21 and 22,respectively, in storage/containment area 152 defined by and betweeninner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22, and, referring in relevantpart to FIGS. 8 and 9, a display position from outer side 40 of spine 23juxtaposing outer faces 30 and 35 of panels 21 and 22 so to locate outerhanger 100 in storage/containment area 155 between outer faces 30 and 35of panels and outwardly display pockets 120 and 150 of the respectivepanels 21 and 22 from inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22,respectively. In the storage position panels 21 and 22 defining thestorage orientation of hanging carrier 20, panels 21 and 22 arepivoted/folded inwardly toward inner side 41 of spine 23 and toward oneanother in the directions of arrowed lines A and B, respectively, inFIG. 7, in which panels 21 and 22 depend downwardly from inner side 41of spine 23 from the respectively side edges 70 and 71 of spine 23 andare spaced-apart and parallel relative to each other, whereby inner face31 of panel 21 is spaced-apart from and diametrically opposed inner face36 of panel 22 so as to define containment area 152 by and between innerfaces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 and inner side 41 of spine 23, innerhanger 110 is positioned in containment area 152 near inner side 41 ofspine 23, storage pockets 120 and 150 are positioned in containment area152 between inner side 41 of spine 23 and outer edges 53 and 63 ofpanels 21 and 22, respectively, and outer hanger 100 is exteriorlyexposed along outer side 40 of spine 23 so as to be available forsuspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the storage orientation orfor being taken up by hand for carrying hanging carrier 20 about whilein the storage orientation.

As a matter of example, FIG. 11 illustrates hanging carrier 20 as itwould appear in use with the panels 21 and 22 in the storage positiondefining the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20, with contents inthe form of ladies shoes applied to pocket 120 and contents in the formof tennis shoes applied to pocket 150, as previously described inconnection with FIG. 10, in which said contents held by pockets 120 and150 in containment area 155 for convenient short term or long termstorage. With said contents applied to pockets 120 and 150 in thestorage orientation of hanging carrier 20, outer hanger 100 may be usedto hang hanging carrier 20, such as from an elevated hook, for the longor short term storage of the contents held by pockets 120 and 150 incontainment area 152, or may be taken up by hand for carrying about asdesired so as provide a convenient way to hold and transport thecontents of pockets 120 and 150. With the contents of pockets 120 and150 held by pockets 130 and 150 in containment area 152 in the storageorientation of hanging carrier 20, pockets 120 and 150 and panels 20 and21 protect the contents of pockets 120 and 150 from damaging externalinfluences. FIG. 11 also illustrates the buckle forming fasteningassembly 160 as it would appear detachably secured so as to detachablyhold and retain panels 20 and 21 in the storage positions thereof so asto maintain the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 until nolonger needed. FIG. 11 illustrates pockets 120 and 150 as they wouldappear yielding so as to bulge inwardly toward one another from therespective inner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 to accommodate thevolume of the applied contents, and further illustrates panels 21 and 22as they would appear yielding so as to bulge outwardly away from oneanother to accommodate the volume of the contents applied to pockets 120and 150. The described material characteristics of panels 20 and 21 andpockets 120 and 150 allow this to take place in the storage of contentsapplied to pockets 120 and 150.

In the display position of panels 21 and 22 defining the displayorientation of hanging carrier 20, panels 21 and 22 are pivoted/foldedinwardly toward outer side 40 of spine 23 and toward one another in thedirections of arrowed lines C and D, respectively, in FIG. 9, in whichpanels 21 and 22 depend downwardly from outer side 40 of spine 23 fromthe respective side edges 70 and 71 of spine 23 and are spaced-apart andparallel relative to each other, whereby outer face 30 of panel 21 isspaced-apart from and diametrically opposed to outer face 35 of panel 22so as to define containment area 155 by and between outer faces 30 and35 of panels 21 and 22 and outer side 40 of spine 23, outer hanger 100is positioned in containment area 155 near outer side 40 of spine 23,storage pockets 120 and 150 are positioned outwardly from inner faces 31and 36 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, so as to be outwardlydisplayed for providing convenient user access to storage pockets 120and 150 for the application and retrieval of selected contents and forallowing the viewing of the contents of storage pockets 120 and 150through storage pockets 120 and 150 as facilitated by the materialcharacteristics of pockets 120 and 150, and inner hanger 110 isexteriorly exposed along inner side 41 of spine 23 so as to be availablefor suspending/hanging the hanging carrier 20 in the displayorientation, as in FIG. 13.

As a matter of example, FIG. 12 illustrates hanging carrier 20 as itwould appear in use with the panels 21 and 22 in the display positiondefining the display orientation of hanging carrier 20, with contents inthe form of ladies shoes applied to pocket 120 and contents in the formof tennis shoes applied to pocket 150, as previously described inconnection with FIG. 10, in which said contents held by pockets 120 and150 are held by pockets 120 and 150 so as to be displayed outwardly frominner faces 31 and 36 of panels 21 and 22 for providing convenient useraccess to said contents of storage pockets 120 and 150 for the retrievalof said contents and for allowing said contents to be viewed throughstorage pockets 120 and 150 as facilitated by the materialcharacteristics of pockets 120 and 150. FIG. 13 illustrates theembodiment of FIG. 12 as it would appear being hung at an elevatedlocation from D-ring 112.

In sum, the storage position of panels 21 and 22 define the storageposition of pockets 120 and 150, and the display position of panels 21and 22 define the display position of storage pockets 120 and 150, asexplained above. And so in the storage position of panels 21 and 22,inner hanger 110 and pockets 120 and 150 are located instorage/containment area 152 defined by the inner sides/faces of spine23 and panels 21 and 22, and outer hanger 100 is located exteriorly soas to be available for suspending hanging carrier 20 from spine 20 inthe storage position of panels 21 and 22 defining the storageorientation of hanging carrier 20. In the display position of panels 21and 22, outer hanger 100 is located in storage/containment area 155defined by the outer sides/faces of spine 23 and panels 21 and 22,pockets 120 and 150 are displayed exteriorly from panels 21 and 22 so asto be readily accessible, and inner hanger 110 is located exteriorly soas to be available for suspending hanging carrier 20 in the displayposition of panels 21 and 22 defining the display orientation of hangingcarrier 20. Storage pockets 120 and 150 extend upright from theirbottoms 122 to their open ends or openings 126 in a direction from outeredges 53 and 63 of panels 21 and 22, respectively, to spine 23, whichprevents contents applied to storage pockets 120 and 150 frominadvertently or unintentionally spilling out from pockets 120 and 150.

Looking back to FIGS. 1 and 2, hanging carrier 20 is formed with afastening assembly, denoted generally at 160, which is mounted to panelsto serve as a retainer for retaining the storage position of panels 21and 22 in the storage position of panels 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 11,and which is movable between fastened/locked and unfastened/unlockedpositions. The immediate embodiment of fastening assembly 160 is in theform of a conventional buckle or buckle assembly, which is used todetachably secure panel 21 to panel 22 in the storage position of panels21 and 22 in the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20 so as toretain panels 21 and 22 in the storage position thereof so as tomaintain the storage orientation of hanging carrier 20. One element 161of the buckle or buckle assembly is connected to a strap 162 affixed toouter edge 53 of panel 20. The other detachably engagable element 165 ofthe buckle or buckle assembly is connected to a strap 166 affixed toouter edge 63 of panel 21. Here, element 161 is a clasp component of thebuckle or buckle assembly, and detachably engagable element 165 is thetongue component of the buckle or buckle assembly that detachablyreceives element 161, and this arrangement can be reversed if sodesired. Straps 162 and 166 are preferably elastic straps, which areable to stretch as needed for fastening and unfastening the elements ofthe buckle of the preferred fastening assembly 160. To accommodate theincreased space between panels 20 and 21 due to the application ofcontents to pockets 120 and 150 as shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 11 illustratesthe elements 161 and 165 of the buckle of the preferred example offastening assembly 160 shown as they would appear detachably secured,and straps 162 and 166 as they would appear elastically stretched toaccommodate the increased space between panels 21 and 22 in the storageposition of panels 21 and 22 with contents applied to pockets 120 and150. Other fastener assemblies that can be readily manipulated by handand that will readily occur to those skilled in the art may be used forfastening assembly 160 without departing from the invention.

The invention has been described above with reference to preferredembodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the nature and scope of the invention. Various changesand modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes ofillustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To theextent that such modifications and variations do not depart from thespirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:
 1. A hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items, comprising: a first storage pocket carried by a firstpanel, a second storage pocket carried by a second panel, and a spine,formed with opposed inner and outer hangers, connecting the first panelto the second panel; the first and second panels being mounted to thespine for movement between storage and display positions relative to thespine; in the storage position of the first and second panels, the innerhanger and the first and second pockets are located in a first storagearea defined by inner sides of the spine and the first and secondpanels, and the outer hanger is located exteriorly so as to be availablefor suspending the hanging carrier from the spine in the storageposition of the first and second panels; and in the display position ofthe first and second panels, the outer hanger is located in a secondstorage area defined by outer sides of the spine and the first andsecond panels, the first and second pockets are displayed exteriorlyfrom the first and second panels so as to be readily accessible, and theinner hanger is located exteriorly so as to be available for suspendingthe hanging carrier in the display position of the first and secondpanel.
 2. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal itemsaccording to claim 1, wherein the first pocket has an item placement andretrieval first opening, and the second pocket has an item placement andretrieval second opening.
 3. The hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items according to claim 2, further comprising a first closureelement mounted to the first panel to serve as a closure for the firstopening and movable between closed and opened positions for closing andopening the first opening of the first pocket.
 4. The hanging carrierfor holding and storing personal items according to claim 3, furthercomprising a second closure element mounted to the second panel to serveas a closure for the second opening and movable between closed andopened positions for closing and opening the second opening of thesecond pocket.
 5. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personalitems according to claim 4, wherein the first opening of the firstpocket is directed toward the spine.
 6. The hanging carrier for holdingand storing personal items according to claim 5, wherein the secondopening of the second pocket is directed toward the spine.
 7. Thehanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according toclaim 6, wherein the first and second pockets are constructed of amaterial that permits the viewing therethrough of contents placedtherein.
 8. The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal itemsaccording to claim 7, wherein the spine is stiffened.
 9. The hangingcarrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 8,wherein the first and second panels are coextensive.
 10. The hangingcarrier for holding and storing personal items according to claim 9,wherein the first and second pockets are coextensive.
 11. A hangingcarrier for holding and storing personal items, comprising: a firststorage pocket carried by a first panel, a second storage pocket carriedby a second panel, and a spine, formed with opposed inner and outerhangers, connecting the first panel to the second panel; the first andsecond panels being mounted to the spine for movement between storageand display positions relative to the spine; in the storage position ofthe first and second panels, the inner hanger and the first and secondpockets are located in a first storage area defined by inner sides ofthe spine and the first and second panels, and the outer hanger islocated exteriorly so as to be available for suspending the hangingcarrier from the spine in the storage position of the first and secondpanels; in the display position of the first and second panels, theouter hanger is located in a second storage area defined by outer sidesof the spine and the first and second panels, the first and secondpockets are displayed exteriorly from the first and second panels so asto be readily accessible, and the inner hanger is located exteriorly soas to be available for suspending the hanging carrier in the displayposition of the first and second panel; and a fastening assembly mountedto the first and second panels to serve as a retainer for retaining thefirst and second panel in the storage position and being movable betweenfastened and unfastened positions.
 12. The hanging carrier for holdingand storing personal items according to claim 11, wherein the fasteningassembly comprises a buckle assembly including an element thereofcarried by the first panel and a detachably engagable complementalelement thereof carried by the second panel.
 13. The hanging carrier forholding and storing personal items according to claim 11, wherein thefirst pocket has an item placement and retrieval first opening, and thesecond pocket has an item placement and retrieval second opening. 14.The hanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according toclaim 13, further comprising a first closure element mounted to thefirst panel to serve as a closure for the first opening and movablebetween closed and opened positions for closing and opening the firstopening of the first pocket.
 15. The hanging carrier for holding andstoring personal items according to claim 14, further comprising asecond closure element mounted to the second panel to serve as a closurefor the second opening and movable between closed and opened positionsfor closing and opening the second opening of the second pocket.
 16. Thehanging carrier for holding and storing personal items according toclaim 15, wherein the first opening of the first pocket is directedtoward the spine.
 17. The hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items according to claim 16, wherein the second opening of thesecond pocket is directed toward the spine.
 18. The hanging carrier forholding and storing personal items according to claim 17, wherein thefirst and second pockets are constructed of a material that permits theviewing therethrough of contents placed therein.
 19. The hanging carrierfor holding and storing personal items according to claim 18, whereinthe spine is stiffened.
 20. The hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items according to claim 19, wherein the first and secondpanels are coextensive.
 21. The hanging carrier for holding and storingpersonal items according to claim 20, wherein the first and secondpockets are coextensive.